SAN DIEGO – Eighteen-year-old Sachia Vickery of Miramar, Fla., has played professional tennis tournaments in Mexico, France, Canada and the United States this year and has recently established a career-high singles ranking of No. 230 in the world.

This week, she is the top seed at the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championship at the Barnes Tennis Center, where she reached the round of 16 after getting past local entrant Megan McCray of Oceanside, Calif., 6-4, 6-2, in a fourth-round match on Stadium Court.

"My opponent went out there with nothing to lose. She was hitting really big shots. I was just trying to make her play and find my rhythm," Vickery said after the match. "I’ve been playing pro tournaments all year, so obviously there is some pressure [as the top seed] from everyone here."

When asked about the wild card to the US Open that will be awarded to the girls’ 18s champion on Sunday, Vickery responded, "It’s what I dreamed of all of my life, playing at the US Open. It would mean so much to me. I just want to do the best I can this week, and hopefully that will be enough to win the tournament."

Christina Makarova thrilled local tennis fans, as the 10th seed in the girls’ 18s got past hard-hitting Gabrielle Andrews of Pomona, Calif., 6-4, 6-1, to advance. Makarova, a resident of the San Diego community of Scripps Ranch, will face second-seeded Alexandra Kiick on Thursday at 11 a.m. (PDT). Kiick is the daughter of former Miami Dolphins running back Jim Kiick.

Tournament officials named Cassandra Vazquez of Houston as the Babolat Player of the Day. On Tuesday, Vazquez ousted seventh-seeded Louisa Chirico of Harrison, N.Y., with a 6-3, 6-1 upset in a girls’ 18s third-round match. The award, which is presented to a player each day of the event, is based equally on competitive achievement and sportsmanship.

On Thursday night, the USTA Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships will continue its tradition of hosting a Final Eight dinner at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, which will be attended by each of the singles and doubles quarterfinalists.

Nearly 400 girls ages 16 and 18 and under are competing for the title of national champion, as well as a wild-card entry into the singles main draw of the US Open (for the 18s champion) and a wild card into the US Open Junior Championships (for the 16s champion). The 18s doubles champions will also receive a wild card into the main draw of the US Open.

Spectator admission and on-site parking at the Barnes Tennis Center is free.